Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 27, 2017 14:31:39 GMT 12
Episode 167 of the Wings Over New Zealand Show is now online and features a July 2012 interview I conducted with Charles Sharp, who was a Photo Reconnaissance pilot flying PRU Spitfires and Mosquitoes, among other things during WWII.
Charles joined the Royal Air Force in October 1939, though his training did not begin till late 1940. After learning to fly on de Havilland Tiger Moths and Airspeed Oxfords, he was at an Operational Training Unit flying Beaufighters when he was shot down by a night fighter over Yorkshire. This forced him to spend a considerable time in hospitable, but when he returned to flying he was eventually sent on a different path, to fly Photo Reconnaissance Unit aircraft.
Joining No. 140 Squadron RAF, Charles flew Supermarine Spitfire PRIV’s and PRXI’s to begin with, then he converted onto the Photo Reconnaissance version of the de Havilland Mosquito. He flew the Mosquito II, IX and XVI on this squadron. He flew all over Europe photographing targets and areas of interest. Following 60 operations with no. 140 Squadron Charles was rested, during which – among other postings – he joined No. 1 Ferry Unit at RAF Pershore, and was engaged in ferrying Beaufighters and Mosquitoes to the Middle East and Far East.
He then returned to No. 140 Squadron, now at Eindhoven, and continued photo operations in Europe and England till the end of the war. He left the RAF in March 1946. Charles passed away in October 2015 in Whangarei where he’d lived for many years.
www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2017/10/charles-sharp/
Charles joined the Royal Air Force in October 1939, though his training did not begin till late 1940. After learning to fly on de Havilland Tiger Moths and Airspeed Oxfords, he was at an Operational Training Unit flying Beaufighters when he was shot down by a night fighter over Yorkshire. This forced him to spend a considerable time in hospitable, but when he returned to flying he was eventually sent on a different path, to fly Photo Reconnaissance Unit aircraft.
Joining No. 140 Squadron RAF, Charles flew Supermarine Spitfire PRIV’s and PRXI’s to begin with, then he converted onto the Photo Reconnaissance version of the de Havilland Mosquito. He flew the Mosquito II, IX and XVI on this squadron. He flew all over Europe photographing targets and areas of interest. Following 60 operations with no. 140 Squadron Charles was rested, during which – among other postings – he joined No. 1 Ferry Unit at RAF Pershore, and was engaged in ferrying Beaufighters and Mosquitoes to the Middle East and Far East.
He then returned to No. 140 Squadron, now at Eindhoven, and continued photo operations in Europe and England till the end of the war. He left the RAF in March 1946. Charles passed away in October 2015 in Whangarei where he’d lived for many years.
www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2017/10/charles-sharp/
